Kirk Stephens 63 has an old connection with Pakistan and the Far East. Born in Karachi before the country 1948, Mr. Stephens has made numerous nostalgic visits to his birthplace. But the last time he went to Pakistan and India, in November it was not to see the Taj Mahal and the sights of Karachi/
it was for seven inexpensive tooth implants in his mouth.
A friend told the Stephens about inexpensive hip surgery in a town in south India, which made them, think about his teeth and his dental problems. With a bit of digging, Stephens located a Mumbai dentist, Dr., Shinderpal Jandu who gave a quote so low that, when added to travel costs, they spent one-third the amount they would have back home in Los Angeles.
Dr. Shinderpal Jandu not only charged far less, he also inspired faith, personally answering all e-mail messages to clear up any concerns the Stephens had about procedures.
Stephens combined the dental work with a side trip to the sublime beaches of Goa. Stephens plans to return to India this spring for follow-up treatment.
Google the words “dental tourism in India” and 1.4 millions entries pop up in 0.159 second. The Internet has encouraged a new form of outsourcing to India, as increasing numbers of Americans fly there to get their teeth cleaned and capped. Some patients mix the procedures with sightseeing. Others simply go for the porcelain bridges and fly right back.
“Dentistry, the world over, is becoming more and more standardized, which also contributes to the cheaper costs involved,” said Dr. Jandu.
Dr. Jandu estimates that he treats up to 45 patients from the U.S. and Europe every month. Apart from the occasional serious ailment, most of his American patients come for cosmetic work. Often, patients contact the clinic directly.
“They e-mail us their scanned X-rays, and we get back with a cost and treatment estimate,” Jandu said.
One happy customer is Bill Piker, a Houston engineer who visited Dr Jandu five years ago for cosmetic dental work.
“I think Jandu’s equipment and the work he does is as good, and maybe even better, than what I could have gotten at home” Mr. Thompson said.
Not everyone is convinced.
Dr. T. Bosh, a consumer adviser and spokeswoman with the American Dental Association, said, “We encourage people to do their research before deciding to go abroad and get treatment. Find out what laws exist in that country to protect them against any kind of medical negligence and whether the dental treatment available there conforms to international standards.”
Dr. Bosh said some patients complained to the association after returning from India. One woman said she had to get six tooth caps redone because the porcelain bridge covering them broke after she came home.
Such mishaps could have happened here as well, Dr Bosh said, but if the patient had undergone the procedure in the United States, she could have gone back to her dentist for a free remedy.
“Instead, she ended up paying money all over again for the same treatment,” Dr. Harms said. “And the insurance company is not going to pay for the same treatment twice.”
Dr. Bosh added that Americans seeking inexpensive care could find it at dental schools, which can charge half the standard price.
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